Oh My Cullen! No flipping way! Seriously, thank you so much! I've already gotten over 100 reviews for this story, it was favorited 54 times, and story-alerted 77 times! Wow, you all sure know how to make a girl feel special! Lol – anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter & pretty please review!
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Twilight – if I did, I'd never ever make it end!
-----------------------------------------Edward & Bella-----------------------------------------------
I nonchalantly played with my locket that Charlie had mailed me on my thirteenth birthday. It was gorgeously decaled with perfect stones embroidered along the edges and a small white gem in the middle. He, of course didn't pick it out. Every gift that he had ever gotten for me was picked out by one of the sales ladies – thankfully almost all of them had good taste.
I brought my locket close to my lips, kissing it. I couldn't ever bear to let Charlie get hurt – especially on my account. It just wasn't an option. I didn't care how strong or powerful any of the Cullen's were – Charlie was my dad and I loved him.
I folded my last shirt and placed it into my overnight bag. I had spent the last two days at Edward's and Charlie was bound to get suspicious. So, I was going to have to go home tonight. Edward would of course just sneak into my window without him knowing so.
"Almost ready, my love?" Edward's masculine arms wrapped around my agile frame, engulfing me in a hug.
"Just about. I just need to grab my bag in the bathroom." I turned around to face him, still in his comforting embrace. "So, are you going to tell me where you plan on hiding me or are you just going to kidnap me?"
"I have no intentions of telling you where we are going."
"So kidnapping it is. My dad is a cop, you know."
"I'm well aware of that fact. That is why Alice has called ahead letting him know you will be making a surprise trip to Seattle—for your birthday."
"My birthday?" In all the madness—I had completely forgotten that my birthday was coming up. "We're not really going to Seattle, are we?"
"No, not even close." He tossed my heavy bag over his shoulder and reached for my hand, "Come on. I think Charlie is eager to see you."
***
"Hi, Dad! I'm home!" I threw my bag onto the couch and went into the kitchen. Dad was cleaning his riffles again—if there was any danger coming, at least I knew he'd be well protected. The thought eased my mind just a bit.
"Hey, Bells. Alice called. Thought you didn't like celebrating any of your birthdays? Where did this new sudden impulse come from?"
"Oh, yeah, well…you know Alice. You can't tell that girl no."
"When're you leaving?"
"Tonight, I think. I'm gonna go pack. Want me to make you anything for dinner?"
"No, I'm good. There's some left over pizza in the fridge."
"'Kay, Dad. See ya."
I went upstairs to my bedroom—Edward was lying across my bed. He looked peaceful—beautiful. I emptied the contents of my bag and started stuffing fresh clothes into it.
"So, am I gonna need jackets? Shorts? Boots? You gonna tell me anything?"
"Just pack what you can. If you need anything more we can always buy stuff when we get there."
Great. I'm being kidnapped against my will and forced to go shopping. Ugh.
"How long will we be gone for?"
"Long enough to ensure your safety. I will not bring you back until we know for sure that the threat is gone."
Ugh, I wasn't going to get anything out of him, was I? He could be so stubborn – it was starting to get annoying. "Fine." I folded my arms across my chest. "Be that way, see if I care." I sat down in his familiar spot – my rocking chair.
"Love, you know I'm only doing this for your safety." His hand gently rubbed against my shoulder in a comforting way.
"I know, but I think you're seriously taking this way too far."
"I'm only doing what I know is best for you. You've never seen the Volturi when they're mad or want something."
"Exactly, which I know they'd go after Charlie in a heartbeat – I'm not letting him suffer the repercussions of my actions! I won't do it!" I argued. Who was I ever kidding? His rifle wouldn't help him one bit – but at the same time I knew I couldn't refuse Edward. When it came down to my safety, he was going to do anything in his power to keep me out of harms way. His incentives were completely about my safety – I just wish they'd be about Charlie's too.
"Don't worry, my princess, my family will be watching over him and if anything happens, he'll be protected." He brushed my bangs out of my face. "I'm just taking extra precautions with you."
Nope, there definitely was no chance of me getting out of this one. "Fine, when do we leave?"
"I just purchased our flight tickets, we leave tonight at eight."
"We're going that far away that we need to go by plane?" I exclaimed.
"For your safety, my Bella. It's for your safety."
I knew he was just trying to protect me but I couldn't help but be scared for my father—so unaware of the supernatural world that surrounded him. I gazed into Edward's obsidian eyes—even though they were pitch black, I felt assured and safe. I knew Edward would take care of Charlie and me.
"Humph. Meet me by my truck—I'm gonna say goodbye to Charlie."
He kissed me softly on the forehead and disappeared into the darkness through my open window. I locked the window and double-checked just in case to make sure it was secure. Didn't want any renegade vampires coming through my window to Charlie's room in the middle of the night. The thought of it made me shudder.
Charlie got up from his laying position on the couch as I walked down the stairs—a slice of cold pizza still in his hands. "Need help with your bags?"
"No thanks. I got it. It's not very heavy."
"Call me as soon as you get to Seattle."
"Will do, Dad."
"It's gonna be quiet without you around, Bells. I'm gonna miss you." His words made me want to cry. What if this was the last time I would be seeing Charlie? I had to put on a brave face so I didn't give anything away. Before I could say something, Charlie spoke first, "Well, have fun."
"Yeah. You too." My hand was on the doorknob but before I opened the door, I turned to Charlie, "I love you, Dad."
****
Edward's Volvo was parked a few miles from my house. We made a quick switch—his car would get us to our destination much faster.
"Your father will be ok, love." Edward was driving as I sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder. We were nearly to the airport—dread was sinking into my stomach.
"I know, Edward. I just can't help to think the worst is coming." And as if Alice and I were perfectly attuned to one another, Edward's cell phone started ringing.
"It's Alice." He kept one hand on mine, the other on the steering wheel—he was driving with his knees which didn't help me feel any better.
I couldn't hear their conversation but I could read the look on Edward's face. Whatever it was—it wasn't good. His face was grave and the muscles in his jaw and neck tightened.
"Ok, we'll be right there." He snapped the phone shut.
"What? What is it? Is it Charlie? Oh, God! Is he ok?"
"No, Charlie is fine. We can't go to the airport. Alice saw someone waiting there for us." He pulled over on the side of the freeway. When the coast was clear, he made a U-turn—the car skidded on two feels for the longest 5 seconds of my life.
"Who exactly is waiting there for us? I thought Alice couldn't see the tracker or shield or whatever you call it?" I asked, as my breathing became labored.
"No. She can't. There are more now. Caius is there along with two members of the guard, Chelsea and Afton." He told me while keeping his eyes on his side and rear view mirrors.
"Caius? Caius as in Volturi super vampire?"
He took in a long, unnecessary breath, "Yes."
My body went numb. I was frozen in my position. I could barely look at Edward—whose eyes were now focused intently on his rear view mirror.
"What? What is it now?" When he didn't respond, I used all the strength left in my body to turn myself so I was facing backwards. A sleek, black, expensive looking car with black tinted windows was following us—without its lights on. "Is it them? Edward? Talk to me!" I demanded.
"It has to be the tracker and his protector. I can't hear anything from the car."
The roads were slick tonight—and crowded with cars. Edward was weaving in and out easily—the car behind us never faltered. It had to be vampires. No human could drive like that in these conditions—especially with no lights on.
"Edward! What are we going to do?" He pushed me back into my seat.
"Put your seatbelt back on. We're going back to Forks." He opened his cell phone and dialed a number. "Emmett?"
I couldn't hear their conversation with my weak, human ears. Not that it mattered—I was entirely focused on the threat tailing us.
"We'll be there in ten minutes. Get everybody. Meet us outside the garage. They won't follow us all the way to the house. We outnumber them. We have to go to plan B."
He hung up the phone and dropped it into his lap.
"Plan B?" I asked.
"Plan B."
Edward stepped further on the pedal and we sped faster towards the Cullen house. As Edward predicted, the black car took off once we hit the outskirts of Forks. My hand hurt from gripping Edward's so tightly. Edward's family and the Denali coven were all positioned around the house—defensively—waiting for our arrival. When we were parked, Alice opened my door and had to pry my hand from Edwards.
Edward quickly grabbed my overnight bag from the backseat, swinging it across his shoulder and then he opened my door, lacing our fingers together. We walked into the house to find everyone in the living room again.
"We're so glad you're back, dear." Esme cupped my face in her hands.
I gave her a small smile before adjourning to the living room with Edward by my side.
"Carlisle, what are we going to do?" Edward asked, pulling me into his lap as he sat down on one of the very expensive couches that they owned. "They followed us! Now, they have gone too far!"
"I don't know yet, son – but we will figure something out." He paced back and forth, looking to Eleazar for some answers.
"Well, we're ready and able to put up a fight," He started, "but we do need to assure Bella's safety and take the proper precautions."
"Like?" I shook my head back and forth. I hated being left out of everything. It was bad enough that I was practically useless – but when they left me out of things it was even far worse off.
"You will be safest here—and here you will have to stay, that much is obvious now. Our numbers are greater than theirs. We will have to take out the shield so we won't be fighting blind. But the problem is how?"
"Carlisle, I have some experience tracking." Eleazar stood from his seated position.
"And so do I. And I am an excellent fighter. We will try to find our elusive vampire friend." Tanya added. I was shocked by her offer.
"Good. We will take turns patrolling and protecting Bella." Carlisle resumed the conversation.
"I think it would be best to have at least two of us guarding the outside. We wouldn't want an unexpected visit from the shield." Jasper suggested. "We can each switch every five hours for breaks."
"Excellent idea, Jasper." Carlisle agreed. "You and Alice can go first,"
Alice nodded her head in agreement, lacing her fingers with Jasper. Before they left the house, Alice skipped over to me in her pixie-like way. "Don't worry, Bella, I'm not going to let anything happen to you." She kissed the side of my cheek.
I gave her a smile, "Thanks," and with that they were out the door, ready to stand their guard.
'Edward, I think you should let Bella get some rest. She'll need it if anything happens. We don't need any repeats of her fainting or anything.' Carlisle told him through his thoughts
He nodded his head in his direction, intertwining our fingers together. "Come on, my princess. You should get some sleep. Tonight we'll be sleeping in my old room, okay?"
I understood why. We must be expecting them soon for him to take such precautions. So, I just nodded my head. Sleep was starting to over-take me. I told my goodnights to everyone before Edward swept me up in his arms, carrying me up the stairs.
I laid in Edward's embrace the whole night – fear stricken. I knew that they would be here for me shortly. It was only a matter of time before they would try to pry me from the people I loved so dearly – only to try to convert me to the opposite side. They were malicious monsters and they wanted me to become one of them.
I finally drifted to sleep sometime after Edward hummed my lullaby for about the third time. My thoughts were left to be in my euphoric land – somewhere I could escape to most of the time. Somewhere that Edward and I could just be.
The setting of my dream was so vivid, colorful, happy, and realistic – everything I practically wanted my life with Edward to be. It was blissful – just us under the gorgeous stars as we laid in each others arms. Not one care in the entire world, we just simply cared about each other.
In my dream, I was already happily married. Wow, I had been going through so much that I had even forgotten about being engaged and I didn't even think to tell Charlie. My thoughts were then again diverted, slipping back into my happy pre-marital bliss.
I took in his deep scent as his arms wrapped gently around my waist. I smiled, but realized that I wasn't breathing, nor was Edward. Did this mean that I had been changed?
My thoughts were interrupted as I heard a huge thump come from above me. I immediately shot up, Edward shielding me.
"What was that?" I asked, my hand flying to my throat instinctively.
Yay! I hope you liked this! Make my day and leave me a review please! : )
Chelsea
